Free Baseball
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Free Baseball is a children's novel by Sue Corbett, first published in 2006.
Plot summary
Felix is a Cuban boy who came to the USA with his mother when he was three years old. He has a passion for baseball and wins two tickets to a minor-league baseball game via a radio competition. Going to the game with his babysitter, they become separated when Felix learns that the opposing team has a Cuban player, believing that he might be able to share information about Felix's father, a famous baseball player on the Cuban national team who stayed behind when Felix and his mother emigrated.
Development
Corbett had the idea for the book after an incident at a baseball game when she became separated from her daughter Karina and was able to find her as all of the children were wearing the cok (the team name) team shirts.[1]
Reception
School Library Journal described the novel as an "engaging, well-written story with a satisfying ending."[2] The Topeka Capital-Journal called it a "wonderful mix of self-discovery and baseball."[3] Kids Reads thought that Felix was a "richly drawn character".[4]
Awards and nominations
- 2006 Selected by the Junior Library Guild[5]
- 2008 Nominated for the Young Hoosier Book Award [6]
- 2008 Nominated for the Virginia Readers Choice Award [7]
- 2009 Nominated for the Nutmeg Book Award (final results not yet announced)[8]